Suggestions about using a Pellet Smoker in the Phoenix area in the summer

[herbmmm]

I have been smoking food for over 15 years but am new to Pellet Smoking. I live in the Phoenix area and from now until mid September our average temp will be around 105 plus or minus 10 degrees. This is not normally a problem with the Kamado smoker I had but I understand can cause some problems with a pellet smoker! For any of you that live in an area with this kind of heat is there anything different you do with your pellet grill in the summer? I picked up a pack of three ribs at Sams yesterday and would like to smoke them this weekend! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[sandyut]

I bought my Rec Tec in Nov for use in SLC. So the first several cooks were in winter and very cold. Once the temps warmed, I was overshooting the lowest temp setting (LO 180 degrees). Full story, is was in the high 80s and in direct sun.

I found youtube vids and confirmed with Rec Tec's killer customer service - that the minimum auger setting needed to be lowered from the default. this sets the pellet rate at the lowest temp setting. the Rec Tec guy said in Augusta GA they need to do the same as it gets flaming hot there in summer. this setting dialed me in. I imagine when winter comes I will jsut dial it back up a couple clicks - all done with the phone app.

here is my original post on the topic

https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t...-probe-alarms-on-rec-tec.286993/#post-1956273

 

[sandyut]

Trager calls it the P setting for auger pause. I imagine most have this type of setting, but these are the only two I know. I only know about the trager P setting because I was helping a guy at work troubleshoot the same situation.

 

[mike243]

Only way to find out is to FIRE IT UP lol, so what kind did you buy? mine doesn't set in the sun so I'm no help with it setting outdoors , in the smoke mode I can set the auger delay P settings the higher the # the longer the pause before a set run time to stoke more pellets, lower temps with the higher settings to make more smoke

 

[herbmmm]

I bought a Silverbac and like it very much! Maybe over thinking potential problems in our summer heat! I can reset the auger speed but would rather not until I find that there is a problem!

 

[sandyut]

I bought a Silverbac and like it very much! Maybe over thinking potential problems in our summer heat! I can reset the auger speed but would rather not until I find that there is a problem!

you will know if you need to adjust. you will see the temp slowly rise above the lowest set point. on mine it was set at 180 and slowly kept going up. I think I stopped it at 250 before adjusting the auger. then a near immediate correction.

 

[sweetride95]

I have a Savannah Stoker on my Traeger. It seems to need the "low auger" setting adjusted a click or two seasonally to maintain the tightest low temp control.